Last night, Liverpool played their 2nd pre-season friendly match in Vienna, Austria. It was a night for disappointment for fringe players who were trying to force their way into the first eleven but there were some bright spots for youngsters like Pacheco and Nemeth. They took their chance well and if we need some reinforcement in the latter parts of the season, hopefully they will not let the team down if they are called up.
Cavalieri : 7/10. Was alert and made 1 good run coming out to thwart a Rapid's attack.
Degen : 5/10. Looks uncomfortable and clumsy, probably due to his lack of fitness. Did not provide any attack from the right.
Insua : 4/10. Had a bad game. He let a cross sailed over his head which provided a genuine opportunity for Rapid. He do not look sound defensively and from this performance, do not look like a steady cover for our other 2 regular leftbacks.
Carragher : 5/10. Was going over the top with his tackles, which were punishable by the freekicks that he conceded. Holiday mood still?
Ayala : 6/10. Had a decent game and did not put a foot wrong.
Plessis : 7/10. Covered well for the defence and his presence in the middle of the park was well felt.
Gerrard : 7/10. Was winning the ball always with his crunching tackles and had a nice one-two with Voronin.
El Zhar : 5/10. Invisible throughout the game. Only provided 1 telling cross which found Nemeth's head, that was all that he has provided throughout the 1st half.
Babel : 6/10. Look lively in the first 15 minutes but after that, he was struggling to receive any ball and just faded away from the game.
Voronin : 6/10. Was running hardworkingly and once again, shown some nice one touches.
Nemeth : 7/10. Determined display from this young lad. Managed to turn his marker before he provided a cross which had the Rapid's defence scrambling.
First half belong to Rapid. They had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside.
Gulasci : 6/10. The goal conceded certainly wasn't his fault.
Kelly : 6/10. He played at right back, not his natural position, hence, did not contribute as a attacking threat.
Spearing : 5/10. Was exposed many times playing in the unfamiliar left back position.
Skrtel : 6/10. Was faultless.
San Jose : 6/10. Had a better game than the first.
Lucas : 5/10. Didn't dictate play in the middle and that was one of the reason why we couldn't control much possession.
Mascherano : 6/10. Still trying to find his fitness but when a tackle was count upon, he didn't fail the team.
Kuyt : 7/10. Tried very hard to help the team get on level term, had a powerful shot hit the side netting and combined well with Pacheco on the right to create goal scoring chances.
Benayoun : 6/10. Had the best chance to score on the night when his weak backheel was saved on the goal line by the goalkeeper.
Pacheco : 8/10. Man of the match for Liverpool for me. He was creating chances for himself and also for others. Saw his individual effort went wide. Probably deserved a goal for his enterprising display.
Ngog : 5/10. Another disappointing display. Why is he so good in my FM game but shitty in real?
Overall, this was a game which Rapid deserved to win. Liverpool was very poor in the first half and it was only in the last 10minutes that they look threatening in attack.
After this game, it is off to the Far East for the rest of their pre-season! Looking forward to it man!
YNWA @ 2:36 AM
